Trauma centre in the name of great grandfather
- JDU leader donates plot for hospital under scheme that allows him to decide what to call it

SHUCHISMITA CHAKRABORTY

JDU leader Sanjay Kumar Jha, also a member of the state planning board, has donated 1.71 acres along National Highway 57 in Madhubani for construction of a trauma centre.

The value of the land Jha donated to the health department is around Rs 3.5 crore. Officials said Jha availed of a health department scheme whereby a person donating land for a hospital gets the privilege of suggesting the name of the hospital.

Jha has proposed that the upcoming trauma centre be named after his great grandfather, Murli Bhedi Jha.

Jha’s initiative is important given that the state does not have a functional trauma centre.

There is one in Bihta area but it is not functional yet.

R.P. Ojha, additional secretary-cum-spokesperson of the health department, said the scheme has been around for a long time but few have come forward to donate land. “It is really great that Jha has taken the initiative.”

Talking of why he donated the land, Jha said areas in the periphery lacked proper healthcare institutions, while the area reported many road accident cases.

He thus decided to extend his helping hand.

“There is a primary health centre in Jhanjharpur area but it is too far from the national highway where most accidents take place. A trauma centre in this area would be of great help,” Jha said.

The state branch of Indian Medical Association hailed Jha’s move. It’s president, Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, said: “The medical fraternity welcomes Jha’s initiative. People should take inspiration from him. Those who are capable should come forward to donate land for hospitals. Now that Jha has donated land for a trauma centre, the department should chalk out a proper action plan on how to go about it. People’s contribution should not be wasted way. Or, they would not come forward with such noble initiatives.”

A senior doctor of Patna Medical College and Hospital said: “The health department shoulddo justice with the donated land. I don’t think they are going to come up with a trauma centre there.

“When the department has not been able to run the Bihta-based trauma centre in a full-fledged manner, how can they think of establishing a new one,” asked a doctor at PMCH’s medicine department on condition of anonymity.

Sources said the state badly needs a trauma centre. Its biggest government hospital, PMCH, does not have proper facilities to treat trauma victims. It does not even have an MRI machine — important for diagnosing internal injuries.

A few other important machines too are found wanting. The condition of another government hospital, Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, is also not very good. It lacks both CT scan and MRI machines (both important for detecting injuries).

At NMCH, super-speciality departments like neuro-surgery and gastrointestinal surgery are not available.